City champ gunning for Wimbledon

LIVERPOOL International champion, Caroline Wozniacki, celebrated her seeding at Wimbledon by crushing world number five Svetlana Kuznetsova yesterday to reach the quarter-finals of the International Women’s Open at Eastbourne.

LIVERPOOL International champion, Caroline Wozniacki, celebrated her seeding at Wimbledon by crushing world number five Svetlana Kuznetsova yesterday to reach the quarter-finals of the International Women’s Open at Eastbourne.

The 17-year-old Dane was seeded 31 for the Wimbledon championships which start on Monday.

Then she promptly stepped out on court to demolish the highly-ranked Russian 6-2 6-2.

“It’s definitely the best result of my career,” she declared, after following up a first-round win against world top-40 Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova.

Such form promises not only a genuine shot at the top prize on the south coast but also a major impact next week at Wimbledon where Wozniacki won the junior title two years ago.

Since then the daughter of a Polish international footballer, Piotr, who was transferred to Danish club Odense and started a family in the town where Hans Christian Andersen was also born, has been learning her trade on the Women’s tour.

She told the ECHO last week that a fairytale success is definitely possible.

Fourth-round finishes at five events - including the Australian Open - and two quarter-finals have helped lift her to 32 in the world rankings and she agrees she could be ready for lift-off.

“I have set myself short-term goals all along and climbing into the top 20 is next,” she said. “Can I get to number one eventually? Nothing is impossible - and like everybody else that, and winning Grand Slams, is my dream.

“I was surprised the win against Svetlana came so easily but I’ve worked hard this year and practising with guys has made me a lot stronger and fitter,” added Wozniacki.

This year she has twice beaten Marion Bartoli, last year’s Wimbledon finalist.

“I feel like I am one of the top grass-court players in the world, but because I missed Wimbledon (last year through injury) I am going to lose out because of it, which I think is a little bit tough,” he said.

“I personally think it should just be done on the rankings, which is much easier.”

Defending champion Roger Federer, seeking a sixth straight title, is the top seed in the men’s singles.